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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: leka on Monday 14 November 22 19:57 GMT (UK)

Title: Archibald
Post by: leka on Monday 14 November 22 19:57 GMT (UK)

hi
while reading a relatives WW1 diary the following notes were used,"9-30 to 11.30am Bombarded German units with rifle grenades & Archibald, very successful, 15 in trenches or on parapet, silenced enemy trench mortar". My question is what is a Archibald??
many thanks
Leka

Title: Re: Archibald
Post by: Christine53 on Monday 14 November 22 20:09 GMT (UK)

Archibald = anti-aircraft gun :

https://www.rootschat.com/links/01rxf/

Title: Re: Archibald
Post by: leka on Tuesday 15 November 22 10:50 GMT (UK)

Hi Christine53
Thank you for your reply, i had never heard of a Archibald and wondered if it was some kind of machine gun. Do you think going by my relatives discription they were using it directly at the German trenchs ?
once again thank you for replying.
Leka

Title: Re: Archibald
Post by: martin hooper on Tuesday 15 November 22 17:20 GMT (UK)

In the Royal Flying Corps the German anti aircraft shells were always known as Archie.

I've never come across the British referring to their own AA by the same name. But you live and learn.

Martin